More Than Golden: 5 Fun Facts about the Golden Retriever Temperament

The golden retriever tops the charts of America’s favorite breeds. Common reasons include their gorgeous looks (warm, shiny locks, smiling face, silky ears…), cheerful temperament, and comfort with children. But we’ve learned that golden retrievers are far more than just a pretty face and goofy friendliness. Here are 5 other great facts about golden retrievers:

Ready to rescue: Golden retrievers have been incredible assets to search and rescue teams, hunters, and trackers. Not only great guides, they function as service and therapist dogs. If you question a golden’s intellect, you might be the one with half a brain.

Natural born swimmers: Golden retrievers are instinctively fond of the water. This means that they’ll take your game of fetch into the pool or pond and burn off their energy with a water workout. Dog lovers who also relish days at the beach or lake, this one’s for you!

Cross-species compatible: The golden doesn’t just get along well with human families, but also socializes well with other animals. Whether you’re on a farm or at the local dog park, a golden retriever won’t be the angry animal causing a ruckus. They’re always looking to make new friends.

True companions: This dog isn’t just obeying, snuggling, or licking your face because they know that’s how to ensure another treat. Golden retrievers crave companionship, particularly human attention, and every dog lover knows that kind of reciprocal affection can’t be beat.

Real survivors: Although golden retrievers show up in a number of films, the long-suffering Shadow from “Homeward Bound” is a favorite. The recent true story of Murphy, a lost golden found after twenty months surviving alone in a California forest, is equally astounding. When a sighting of Murphy was reported, the family left Murphy’s old blanket at the alleged campsite…and this dynamic dog was found sleeping on it the next morning. Murphy’s memory and incredible endurance says just about everything you need to know about the breed.

“Golden retrievers are not bred to be guard dogs, and considering the size of their hearts and their irrepressible joy in life, they are less likely to bite than to bark, less likely to bark than to lick a hand in greeting. In spite of their size, they think they are lap dogs, and in spite of being dogs, they think they are also human, and nearly every human they meet is judged to have the potential to be a boon companion who might, at many moment, cry, “Let’s go!” and lead them on a great adventure.” – author Dean Koontz

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What qualities do you love about your golden retriever? Have you led yours on a great adventure, or has he or she taken you on an amazing escapade? Share your pictures and stories with us, here or on social media.